Max Verstappen has expressed serious doubts about his ability to retain the Formula 1 World Championship, describing his Red Bull car as a “monster” that’s hampering his chances. After a frustrating sixth-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, the Dutch driver acknowledged the steep decline in his team’s performance, which has drastically shifted from being dominant to struggling on the track.

Verstappen’s current lead in the championship stands at 70 points with eight races remaining, but his closest competitor, Lando Norris, is closing the gap, finishing third in Italy and reducing the points difference. Red Bull’s narrow lead in the Constructors’ Championship has also been threatened, as they now sit just eight points ahead of McLaren.

“Right now, neither championship seems realistic,” Verstappen stated candidly. “We need to keep working and push flat-out. There are no excuses. We’ve gone from having the most dominant car ever to an undriveable car in just six to eight months. It’s become a monster, and that’s very strange. We need to completely rethink our approach.”

This dramatic reversal in fortunes has seen Verstappen go winless for five consecutive races, a stark contrast to his earlier success where he secured victories in seven of the first ten rounds. His teammate, Sergio Perez, also struggled in Italy, finishing in eighth place.

The team’s decline has been further complicated by internal issues. Red Bull has been rocked by controversy following accusations of inappropriate behavior against team boss Christian Horner, which, although cleared in an internal investigation, has reportedly led to infighting within the team. Additionally, the announcement that star designer Adrian Newey will be leaving the team has added to the instability. Newey, who is winding down his contract, has stepped back from day-to-day decision-making, a move that Verstappen believes has impacted the team’s performance.

“I always said I would have preferred if Adrian stayed, but that’s not the issue right now,” Verstappen explained. “I’ve voiced my concerns to the team, and it’s up to them to make significant changes because we’re underperforming across the board.”

Christian Horner, echoing Verstappen’s concerns, acknowledged the pressure on Red Bull. “With the pace we had today, both championships are definitely under threat. No one puts more pressure on us than we do ourselves. Finishing sixth hurts.”

Horner also highlighted the problems with the car’s balance, describing it as a “vicious circle” where solving one issue leads to the emergence of another. He emphasized that the factory is fully focused on addressing these issues.

Regarding Newey’s departure, Horner downplayed its immediate impact, stating, “The problems we’re facing started in Miami back in May, and Adrian was still fully involved until then. One man’s absence wouldn’t cause such a dramatic change so quickly.”

As Red Bull faces increasing pressure to turn their season around, the spotlight will be on their ability to resolve these internal and technical challenges before it’s too late. Meanwhile, the young British talent Ollie Bearman is expected to race in Baku after Haas’s Kevin Magnussen was handed a ban following a collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

Verstappen’s struggle to tame his “monster” car will be a defining narrative as the championship battle intensifies in the coming weeks.